2018 Lincoln Navigator previewed with dramatic gull-winged concept

Ford’s luxury brand Lincoln has unveiled a preview for its next-generation Navigator large SUV at the 2016 New York motor show.

With gullwing doors and deployable concertina steps that invite passengers to climb aboard, the Navigator concept is not your conventional luxury SUV.

The all-new Lincoln Navigator concept introduces what the brand calls ‘quiet luxury’ to its full-size SUV, intended to represent a vehicle and an experience that is “elegant, effortlessly powerful and serene”.

The concept adopts the new Lincoln grille that debuted recently with the upcoming Continental limousine, among other styling updates that bring the Navigator in line with the rest of the manufacturer’s range.

Lincoln says that itsdesign team drew inspiration from luxury sailboats and yachts, influencing everything from the clean lines and ‘Storm Blue’ paint on the exterior that is meant to mimic the greys and blues of the sea and sky.

Under the bonnet is a 3.5-litre, twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine that Lincoln claims to generate more than 400 horsepower (298kW).

Several drive modes can be selected to alter the SUV’s ride and handling, with the driver able to adjust steering, suspension and noise levels to suit their taste.

Each of these driving modes has an accompanying digital animation in the vehicle’s instrument cluster.

Inside, the Navigator concept is headlined by six patented ‘Perfect Position Seats’ that can be adjusted in 30 ways to “best support occupants’ different body types”, with the driver’s seat featuring independent deployable thigh supports.

The Navigator’s cabin also features four widescreen tablets mounted to the headrest backs, providing passengers with Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing wireless sharing of music and content from personal devices.

A special interior lighting sequence welcomes passengers before every journey.

Safety features fitted to the Navigator concept include pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection, a 360-degree camera and lane-keep assistance.

The production version of the next-generation Lincoln Navigator is expected to arrive in the US sometime in late 2017.

It is believed that, like the Continental before it, the 2017 Navigator will come to the market with a design largely identical to the concept.

Much of the technology and features are also expected to make it to the production version.

However, conventional doors and seating for up to eight passengers is far more likely than the gullwing six-seater layout of the concept vehicle. (Although Lincoln may take a leaf from the Tesla Model X’s book…)

While Lincoln has previously said it has no current plans to develop models for right-hand drive markets like Australia, the company said at last year’s New York motor show “never say never”.

Click the photos tab above for more photos of the new Navigator concept.